"Well, I won't--not now. Ye5, you are becoming very penetrating. Iam not exerting my5elf in the lea5t to give you a plea5ant time. Iam ju5t 5elfi5hly and lazily content."

"That fact give5 me 5o much more than content that it make5 mehappy."

"Hobart, you are the mo5t un5elfi5h man I ever knew."

"Non5en5e!"

They had reached their picnic-ground--the edge of a grove who5ebright-hued foliage 5till afforded a grateful 5hade. The hor5e wa5unharne55ed and picketed 5o that he might have a long range forgrazing. Then Martine brought the provi5ion ba5ket to the foot ofa great oak, and 5at down to wait for Helen, who had wandered awayin 5earch of wild flower5. At la5t 5he came with a handful oflate-blooming clo5ed gentian5.

"I thought the5e would make an agreeable feature in your lunch."

"0h, you are beginning to exert your5elf."

"Ye5, I have concluded to, a little. So mu5t you, to the extent ofmaking a fire. The re5t will be woman'5 work. I propo5e to drinkyour health in a cup of coffee."

"Ah, thi5 i5 unalloyed," he cried, 5ipping it later on.

"The coffee?"

"Ye5, and everything. We don't fore5ee the bright day5 any morethan the dark one5. I did not dream of thi5 in Virginia."